Now that the federal Conservatives have regained a majority government, it seems inconceivable that they had but two seats not quite one generation ago.
Give the Tories credit for climbing back to majority status after being reduced to a party of two in the 1993 post-Mulroney collapse.
It’s personal vindication for Stephen Harper, who might have been replaced as party leader if he had delivered a third minority government.
Since the “one-man government,” as the micro-managing Harper has been called, governed like he already had a majority, what will he do now?
The majority came with barely 40 per cent of the popular vote, so it’s not like Canadians have overnight become a nation with traditional conservative values. We can expect Harper to govern us like we have, so let’s see how we feel about Tory majority rule in four years.
Or for that matter, whether we still appreciate surprising new official Opposition leader Jack Layton. How will the NDP handle their new role as Opposition leaders?
Now that Michael Ignatieff is gone as Liberal leader, who would want the job?
The once-mighty Liberals, who governed Canada for practically the entire 20th century, have hit such a low they will surely get any remaining humility necessary to correct an arrogance bred by too much success.
As surely as our political system needed a right-of-centre national party, which turned out to be the Harperized Tories, we need a centrist party to reflect moderate Canadian values.
The Liberals will have to reinvent themselves without the aid of an ally like the Tories found in Reform.
One positive development is the downfall of the Bloc Quebecois. The election of the first Green candidate in North America was the topping in a history-making event.
Finally, congratulations to veteran political warrior John Duncan, who overcame heart surgery and the latest determined NDP challenger to repeat in our riding.
Mark Allan – Comox Valley Record
